Grandson needs a car for school and work. I have to loan him the money, so I am involved in the search process. I am shocked by what I am learning about the cars that have been sold to us. I started searching Craigslist, then I started looking at carcomplaints.com. Even Toyotas! Since the mid 90s they have been selling life threatening electronic junk. GM and many other cars have been shuting down on the highway for over a decade. Buicks spontaneously catch fire. People have to replace engines or transmissions 2-3times under 100,000 miles. Chrysler 4 cylinders are not worth anything. For over a decade, they have a known history of head gaskets failing and taking out the engine, and sometimes the transmission. Neons are junk. Most of the cars made were junk when they were made. Those great Toyotas? Yeah, if you got the right model and the right year. My 2002 Echo just happened to be a best model and a best year for Toyota. A few models and years are as bad as Gm, Ford, and Chrysler. I am practically paralyzed by fear of buying anything. I hate cars!

For a long time the producers and dealers were making us think that it was just "our car", but now, people are putting their experiences on the net, and it is "Yeah, that is exactly what my car did!" We had a beautiful 95 Buick century wagon that suddenly showed oil in the coolant. Now I know that is normal for mid ninties cars, even some of the Japanese cars. Do a search on the junk that you are driving. You might be amazed. As I had said, "My 2002 Toyota was the best car I ever owned." It was one of the best Toyotas ever made. I bought it because I like the seating height, assuming that being a Toyota, everything else would be good. I was just lucky.

I have been saying that new car are junk waiting to happen for over a decade, and I am still stunned by the enormity of it. Our Nissan Versa is a month old, and already I know that the service department is dishonest and incompetent. All I wanted was a third electronic key. LOL! They couldn't make one correctly, so they disabled the electronic security feature. Now, my $1.89 Walmart key starts the car. They didn't tell me what they had to do to get their key to work. I hate cars. Necessary evil. Love my Honda scooter. When the temp is 60 degrees and above. I'm old. I get cold, now.

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Originally Posted by WhiteReverence

Go to carcomplaints.com and read some of the stories people have to tell about their cars and dealer service. I've been there. I thought that it was just my car. No! They have been selling us junk! I bought a 93 S-10 new. Nothing but problem after problem. A waterpump should not go out at 48,000 miles; the heater core at 52,000 miles. The truck never idled right! After 12 years of poor idling, I cliped a tie holding some hoses and wires, and the truck sputtered and coughed, then smoothed out and ran like it was suppose to new. The service manager had ignored me until I gave up.

I believe that they are intentionally making junk, because they make more profit on broken cars than they do good ones. They make cars for over a decade that kept blowing head gaskets and leaked oil into the cooling system and water into the transmission. They knew that they were producing junk! Now, any person with limited income cannot safely buy a used car without wondering when it is going to fail them. Poor people live in fear of their cars keeping them from caring for their families.

Go to carcomplaints.com and search the complaints about your vehicle! I remember those old straight 6 Chevrolets. With the kind of maintaince given cars today, those cars would have lasted a million miles. Another point! I bought a brand new Datsun Pickup for $3,500 in 1975. A new pickup today costs 5 times that. Wages have not increased 5 times since 1975.

After studying what people are reporting about their cars and reading reports, I'm afraid to help my grandson find a car, because people tend to keep the good ones.

One would think that when a company created a good car that served their customers well, that they would stay close to the design, but no, they opt to change, and create design flaws. Even the Toyota Corolla had some years that are better than others.

Working people who can just afford a car to get back and forth to work, are screwed by car manufacturers who keep putting more and more electronic junk into cars that are only going to break. The more complicated it is, the more likely something will fail. Cars are now complicated to the point of insanity.

What America needs is a brand new 56 Chevy with power steering, automatic, air, and a straight 6 with fuel injection. And seat belts! Airbags if you must. Apparently they often don't work anyway.

Your problem was buying GM products. They are pieces of crap. Every single GM vehicle my friends or family have owned was a complete lemon. Look at German cars. I would recommend a third generation VW Golf or a 1992-1998 BMW 3 series (E36 generation) They run forever, look good, and are a great car for a young guy. Plus being they are old now you can get them for next to nothing. Look for a well maintained example with a service history. If he can drive a stick shift even better as you won't have an automatic transmission to break.

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Originally Posted by WhiteReverence

If this page opens for you, read some of the horror stories people are telling about the electronics on these newer cars. It isn't just Toyota that accelerates on its, own, it is all of the computerized cars. Fricking computers are killing people! And when the company refuses to find the problem, these people trade the cars in! Someone buys a used car that accelerates on its own!

It wasn't just the Elantra. I drove a 2006 Azera once and on the highway the car just suddenly decided to accelerate wildly on its own. We should really try to purchase only White made vehicles (with the exception of GM)

Your problem was buying GM products. They are pieces of crap. Every single GM vehicle my friends or family have owned was a complete lemon. Look at German cars. I would recommend a third generation VW Golf or a 1992-1998 BMW 3 series (E36 generation) They run forever, look good, and are a great car for a young guy. Plus being they are old now you can get them for next to nothing. Look for a well maintained example with a service history. If he can drive a stick shift even better as you won't have an automatic transmission to break.

It wasn't just the Elantra. I drove a 2006 Azera once and on the highway the car just suddenly decided to accelerate wildly on its own. We should really try to purchase only White made vehicles (with the exception of GM)

I grew up in the 40s and 50s. Those old 50 Chevys were nearly indestructible. A loyalty was created. I stayed with Chevy until the 93 S-10, and finally gave up. Actually we did have Three Buick Century wagons, an 80, an 84, and a 95. The 80 was a mess, but I tried to believe that it was just a fluke. The 84 was actually a very good vehicle. Of course, the 95 had the oil in the coolant. It was the combination of the S-10 and the Buick wagon that broke me. I felt, "When you can't trust a Buick...." My current Ford Ranger has 48,000 miles in it, and it has been good so far. Our 2001 Toyota Echo was the best car I have ever owned!

" I have a 2003 PT CRUISER with about 30,800 miles on it. This car when stopped in gear and your foot on the break suddenly goes into gear and it takes two feet on the break pad to hold it. This only lasts about 3 seconds and then stops. On 03-28-06 I was dropping off my daughter and as she went to cross in front of this car it jumped into gear and I almost hit my daughter. I took it to the local dealership and told them about this problem. They said they did a road test and drb test and showed no codes. They said wait until it gets more regular and bring it back in. I did email Chrysler Corp. On this and have not heard back from them yet. I don't feel this car is safe to drive until this get fixed. It seams they could rebuild the transmission instead of waiting for me to run someone over. My 3 year/36,000 will be up sometime this April. I don't feel its fare for me to wait till it gets worse and then dig me $1500 to rebuild the transmission especial after it has been brought to Chrysler attention during the warranty period. Very frustrated right now with all this.
- Hudson, WI, USA "13 Complaints: 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser Power Train: Automatic Transmission Problems

Apparently, the computer thinks they stole their own car. Worse than Windows 8.

1. " This is the second time we have had to tow the car into the repair shop for not starting. Just like the other stories most of the time it starts just fine then out of the blue it doesn't start. Sometimes you can wait a few hours and it will start fine then twice now it never started again without taking it in to be worked on. The first time they thought we needed a new battery. They replaced it and it ran fine for 2 months. Then last week it quite. We hauled it to the repair shop and they have had it 4 days and still have no clue what the problem is. They have checked every system there is and they all say "working fine". Oh I need to add the repair shop called and said it is now starting and they don't know why!! They are still trying to figure out why because they are sure it will happen again. I am sick of it. I wish I could sell the car!!!

- Barbara B., Idaho Falls, ID, USA "

2. " I have a 2004 OLDS ALERO and I have the same problem mentioned in these other stories. It sometimes starts sometimes does not start.I have had the security system removed, new fuel pump, new ignition module- and the mechanic is still not sure what is wrong with the car! When will this problem be recalled? Or when with GMC MAKE THIS RIGHT? I am a single mother, teacher , veteran---- and cannot afford a new car!

- addiem, Parachute, Colorado, USA "

There are 14 of these. And this is just 14 people who have thought to complain on the net. .....In one site!

The vehicle accelerated very high without touching gas pedal over powered the ABS braking system as I was approaching a main road could not stop at stop sign and kept going my front end of car was hit another vehicle going 45 mph. Very lucky to be alive. Having tech checkout the vehicle.
- Cedar Hill, TX, USA

Numerous reports! Nissan issued a recall for some of the 2002 Maximas, but not others. Dealer wouldn't help a guy who only had 1,000 miles on his new Maxima! Electronics on cars have become a threat to public safety.

I see a beautiful 2002 Maxima near me with 78,000 miles advertised for $1,800. How could I possibly put my grandson in such a car?

I'd let my daughter drive that Maxima and not worry about it.
Unless that car has been in a serious accident $1800 is a steal for it.

People don't know how to drive. If the accelerator sticks, put the car in neutral.
I had an old Nova that had a sticky gas pedal, I used to pop it in neutral and stomp the pedal and it would be fine. Finally replaced the throttle cable and it didn't do it anymore.
The Toyotas that "ran away" allegedly could not be put in neutral.
I call BS, there is nothing that will keep a car from being shifted from drive to neutral.
They just didn't think of it.

The dumbass probably had one foot on the gas.

I have not seen a dealer that would refuse to repair a new car with 1,000 miles on it.
If that dealer refused, take it somewhere else. Contact Nissan corporate.
I've owned several Nissans, never had an issue with any of them.

I'd let my daughter drive that Maxima and not worry about it.
Unless that car has been in a serious accident $1800 is a steal for it.

People don't know how to drive. If the accelerator sticks, put the car in neutral.
I had an old Nova that had a sticky gas pedal, I used to pop it in neutral and stomp the pedal and it would be fine. Finally replaced the throttle cable and it didn't do it anymore.
The Toyotas that "ran away" allegedly could not be put in neutral.
I call BS, there is nothing that will keep a car from being shifted from drive to neutral.
They just didn't think of it.

The dumbass probably had one foot on the gas.

I have not seen a dealer that would refuse to repair a new car with 1,000 miles on it.
If that dealer refused, take it somewhere else. Contact Nissan corporate.
I've owned several Nissans, never had an issue with any of them.

The Maxima ad disppeared in less than two hours.

Another Death Trap!2005 Honda Accura: 43 complaints!
contact owns a 2005 Acura MDX. While driving in reverse, the contact heard a clunking noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle jerked backwards and struck a concrete pole approximately 2 feet away. The vehicle automatically shifted into drive, surged forward, and struck another concrete pole. Both air bags deployed. The passenger in the front of the vehicle was trapped and unable to open the door. The police, ambulance, and fire departments arrived at the scene. A police report was filed. The contact had burns and cuts on her arms and face and a swollen right knee. She will have to undergo therapy on her neck and knee. The passenger was badly bruised. The contact spoke with Acura on September 17, 2007 and they stated that their legal department would be in touch with her, however, they have not responded as of yet. This was the second time this failure has occurred. In the first incident, the vehicle was placed in drive and accelerated on its own. The failure occurred while driving 25 mph. The VIN, engine size, and current mileage were unknown. The failure mileage was 32,000. Updated 12/12/07
- South Bury, CT, USA

The Accura is a $40,000 vehicle. the owners are getting them serviced!

Initially, I thought it was driver error, but the complaints are so numerous, and the problems described so similarly, and the failures are repaired for thousands of dollars, but the manufacturers never admit responsibility. There are tens of thousands of incidents where computers and electronics are failing. Read some of the stories customers have to tell. Carcomplaints.com Failed engines, Failed transmissions, Runaway cars, Cooling System Failure destroying engines and transmissions. Sometimes it is under warranty, but more often it is just after warranty expiration. Even Honda has not backed up failures under warranty! The Ford Explorer shouldn't even be allowed to be sold to people. Same for the Ford taurus. The Neon is an electronic jumble that is designed to fail.

It is depressing learning all of this. Many of these cars remind me of the French Chat Chat Machine gun.

Fuel injection is high pressure, carbs use low pressure.
It's hard to suck enough fuel the length of the car to pressure modern EFI, easy to do it when you only need 4 psi.

Pump being in the tank isn't for profit at the dealer, it's for ease of packaging. Usually these pumps last for years, so it's not an issue.Others were mounted under the car, near the tank.
They were not protected, so they didn't last as long normally.

Most tanks can be dropped with about 4 bolts, a few more screws or a lock ring and the pump is out.
I remember having to replace mechanical pumps on the engine every few years. Then when the eccentric on the cam that is used to drive the pump wears off, you have to replace the cam.

Maybe not for he orginal owner, but what about the poorer working person who has to buy the used cars and ends up with an over priced pile of electronic junk that won't take him or her to work? I grew up poor, and my heart and mind is always with the people who actually work for a living. The wealthy have always been able to do just nicely. They try to trade the junk off just before it becomes junk, so they are not as concerned! Except when their "Junk" fails just after warranty expiration and THEY have to pay the full bill for their junk.

Every vehicle made has at least one problem area or recall. If you're looking for a perfect car that never breaks or needs service you won't find it. They are machines and machines fail and need to be serviced.